A community of Gurkhas living in Morden has reacted with fury to new Government rules preventing thousands of soldiers who have risked their lives for Britain from settling in the country.

Five of the 63 Gurkha families forming the South London Nepalese Gurkha Association (SLNGA) based on the Haig Homes estate in Morden may also have to return to Nepal.

And many family members will not be allowed to move here under guidelines published in response to a High Court judgement stating it was unlawful to prevent Gurkhas that served in the army before 1997 from living in the UK.

Under the new rules, a Gurkha would have to have served in the British Army for 20 years before being allowed to stay - five times longer than any soldier from a Commonwealth country.

Haig Homes resident and SLNGA chairman, Gam Gurung said: “This is just totally unacceptable.

"We are hard working people who have served this country - and so have our families and ancestors for up to 200 years. None of it is recognised.

“I feel betrayed by this Government. We have always thought that Britain is our second home and a country that will look after us.

"Despite all the support of the British people, the Government has let us down.

“I feel sad and humiliated by this.

"We have done a lot for this country and have been badly let down.”

Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh has written to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary to clarify the criteria, and has issued an application for the rules to be debated in Parliament.

Members of the SLNGA joined protesters in Parliament Square including Joanna Lumley, whose father served alongside Gurkhas in World War II.

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